LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — Even though his exact role remains to be determined, Rajai Davis wanted to be in the Tigers’ cast.

“Detroit has a history of winning,” the speedy free-agent leftfielder said Wednesday when the Tigers formally announced his signing of a two-year contract. “I’m a winner and I want to win.”

Davis, who came to the winter meetings for the announcement of his signing, said there were “a lot of teams” interested him but that Detroit was “the best choice.”

He added: “We have what I feel are the best starting pitchers. We have the best hitter in the game (Miguel Cabrera), and it seems like everyone hits around him. So I’m including myself in that.

“It’s a winning organization ... with a winning mentality.”

Davis, 33, will be playing in that vast part of Detroit known as the Comerica Park outfield.

He’s slated to share left field in some form with Andy Dirks. In his eight big-league seasons, he has played plenty in center and right. Manager Brad Ausmus sees him “quite possibly” starting at one of those spots when Austin Jackson or Torii Hunter gets a day off.

Ausmus didn’t define a minimum or maximum amount of starts Davis would make in left.

General manager Dave Dombrowski said he won’t be strictly a platoon player. If he was, then the righty-swinging Davis would be in the lineup only against left-handers, who start far fewer games than right-handers over the season. Davis’ playing time could depend on how well he hits against right-handers.

“This is a performance game,” Ausmus said. “He hits left-handers very well (.319 this year), but he can hit right-handers very well, too. If he’s playing defense and hitting well, he’s going to get more at-bats.”

Davis stole 45 bases this season in 51 attempts. It was the fourth time in his big-league career he stole at least 40 bases.

“He brings an element we haven’t had a lot in our organization in recent times — speed,” Dombrowski said.

One of Davis’ base-stealing teachers was Rickey Henderson, by far the all-time leader in steals. “His biggest message was (being) aggressive,” Davis said.

The Tigers often looked one-dimensional in September and October when their power waned and they struggled to score runs. Dombrowski said those two months didn’t prompt the Tigers to add speed. He said speed is simply an ideal for any club but not always available as a good fit.

And as for the September-October power drop-off, he added, “I think a lot of that had to do with Miguel being hurt. If he’s healthy, I think we hit for more power.”

The hobbled Cabrera hit one homer in September and two in the postseason.

Whenever Davis bats in the top of the order, he might help Cabrera hit homers.

When base stealers are on first base, they can prompt pitchers to throw more fastballs than usual to increase the chances of the catcher throwing out the baserunner. Will Davis and if fellow stolen-base threats Ian Kinsler and Jackson really prompt pitchers to throw more fastballs to Cabrera? If so, the big guy might reach new highs in homers and RBIs.

Davis’ contract, agreed upon earlier in the week, is for a reported $5 million per season. Among players, Detroit seems to be known for more than Mike Ilitch’s high payroll. Davis joined a trend: free agents sign with the Tigers, then say the Tigers were their top choice.

“From a fan-support perspective, people comment about how you go to Comerica Park and it’s always full and there are three million people coming out and it’s fun to hear the crowd.”

It sure wasn’t this way when Dombrowski and his cohorts moved into the front office 12 years ago.

“When we started, one of our goals was to have people say why they want to play with the Detroit Tigers compared to why they do not,” Dombrowski said Wednesday. “It’s amazing how many clubs have told us (about Davis), ‘We were trying to sign him or would have liked to have had him. What a great signing.’ ”